The 30-year-old father of two also is one of 100 citizens who will receive an Ellis Island Medal of Honor at a ceremony on the island May 11.

"It's very humbling," Ortiz said, noting the company he is joining.

Recipients include six presidents of the United States, Nobel Prize winners, athletes, artists and leaders of industry.

Since 1986, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations has sponsored the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, which honors living U.S. citizens who are native or naturalized and satisfies one or more of the following criteria: helps others at a community or national level; preserves and celebrates the history and traditions and values of their ancestry; strives for acceptance between ethnic, racial and religious groups; and shares their personal and/or professional gifts for the benefit of humanity.

Ortiz is a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and has served as the commander and conductor of the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast, which has played at the Ellis Island medal ceremony for years.

It's the last year they will perform because the unit is being disbanded because of the sequestration.

NECO spokesman Otto Coca said he's worked with Ortiz for years at the ceremony and because it was the last year of the band and because of his help with the group, they felt he deserved to be honored.

"He's been a good friend to NECO," Coco said. "He's a great example. He loves music. He loves his country and he gives back. We are proud to have him part of the Ellis Island award recipients."

Coco said the group decided to honor Ortiz and then learned about his other work reinforcing the mission of the award.

Ortiz is one of those people who are really more than they appear on the surface, Coco said.

Ortiz is the founder and director of a group that collects and ships used clothes to Latin America and has provided educational scholarships in Costa Rica.

As a college undergraduate, Ortiz founded the Danbury Youth Band and served as a musical director for the Sons of Portugal School of Music.

He taught music for the Danbury elementary schools for a year then at Immaculate High School before going to Windsor six years ago.

Ortiz has received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the University of Hartford Graduate Regents' Award and the Connecticut State University Henry Barnard Award.

He has served as a mentor and credits mentors in Danbury for helping him find his path.

"He was a phenomenal mentor, whose lessons on how to run better really became lessons on how to be a better person," Ortiz said.

"They really touched my life," he said.

Ortiz's parents came from Costa Rica in the 1970s and he was born and raised in Danbury.

"Even though my parents didn't come through Ellis Island, they symbolize the immigrant experience," he said. "Everyone is an immigrant in this country and we've all come together to make it the great place it is."

eileenf@newstimes.com; 203-731-3333

The Medals are presented on Ellis Island, in a dramatic ceremony, to American citizens for their outstanding contributions to their communities, their nation and the world. Past Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients They are awarded annually to outstanding American citizens, from all walks of life, who have distinguished themselves through their significant contributions to this country. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor ranks among the nation's most prestigious awards. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, and each year the recipients are listed in the Congressional Record